3 Workers Hurt As Bridge Collapses Into Canal

A bridge under construction collapsed on Wednesday, injuring three workers and pouring thousands of pounds of wet concrete into a canal west of West Palm Beach, fire officials said.

The workers, who were not seriously injured, were taken to Palm Beach Regional Hospital. They were treated and released, nursing officials said.

``It could`ve been worse. A lot worse,`` said Ernie Wederath, spokesman for Murphy Construction Co. in West Palm Beach. ``We were fortunate, in a way. We`re just glad the injuries were only minor.``

About 15 workers from Murphy Construction were working on the bridge about 10 a.m. when its middle section collapsed, county Fire-Rescue spokesman Ken Fisher said.

One worker, Curtis Ragins, 23, was on top of the bridge spreading concrete when wood and steel-mesh girders gave way, tossing him into the rust-colored canal.

``When we got here, he was in the water,`` Fisher said. ``We used a float to get to him.``

He was conscious and told Fire-Rescue workers that his neck and back hurt, Fisher said. The two other injured workers were standing near Ragins when the bridge crashed down.

Workers had spread 80 yards of concrete -- about 32,000 pounds worth -- on the layers of the bridge.

At least one of the bridge`s beams collapsed under that weight.

Construction officials were trying to find out why. Several metal pieces are used to hold the beams together, and officials did not know whether the metal pieces were in place or were defective and broke, Fisher said.

The workers have spent two weeks building the bridge on Forest Hill Boulevard west of Haverhill Road. They were expected to work for six more months to complete the project, Wederath said.

Company officials said they did not know how long it would take to rebuild the structure and clear the canal.